In a first for Indian Railway, the public sector transporter is laying a 20 km-long test track, equipped with a state-of-the-art laboratory, near Raipur for trial of high-speed and regular trains it plans to introduce.

The railways ministry on Monday sought comments and suggestions on a concept paper it drafted aimed at creating a Rail Development Authority of India which will protect interests of consumers on Indian Railways, ensure quality of service and promotes competition among others.

The government has decided to open up India’s first bullet-train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to private train operators paving the way for the private sector in passenger train operations for the first time in the country.